From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Darrell’s POV

91%

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from them.

Sable’s face radiated pure joy as she spoke to Caelan, her amber eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Caelan, you really should have seen that little guy when he woke up! The moment he opened his eyes, I felt like all the effort was

worth it.”

Caelan leaned forward, giving her his complete attention. “You saved him, Sabi. You’re an incredible doctor, and more importantly, you have a kind heart.”

The flush that crept across her cheeks made my chest tighten. “Don’t praise me like that, I’ll get proud.”

His smile was tender, intimate. “Then be proud. You deserve to be proud of every single one of your achievements.”

When had I ever looked at her like that? In three years, had I ever given her that kind of focused attention? Had I ever celebrated her work, her victories, the things that made her come alive?

My mind drifted to a conversation we’d had before. She’d come home exhausted but glowing after saving a critical patient. I’d barely looked up from my laptop.

“Hard work for so long, and you still don’t make as much as I spend on one dinner? What’s there to be proud of in this broken

profession?”

The memory made bile rise in my throat.

When Sable was eating her pasta, a small drop of cream sauce clung to the corner of her mouth. Without hesitation, Caelan reached over, his thumb gently brushing across her lip. Then he brought his thumb to his own mouth, tasting the sauce.

“Mmm, tastes good,” he said casually.

Sable’s face lit up with that sweet smile I remembered, the one that brought out her dimples. The same dimples I’d stopped noticing

years ago.

David was watching me with growing alarm. “Darrell,” he murmured under his breath, “you need to get control of yourself.”

But I couldn’t. Every word between them was a knife twisting in my chest.

The final blow came when I noticed Sable’s leg casually draped over Caelan’s thigh under the table. Such a simple thing, but it spoke

of comfort, trust, the kind of easy intimacy that comes from knowing someone accepts you completely.

‘I can’t- The words choked in my throat. I shoved back from the table so violently my chair scraped against the floor.

I didn’t say a word. I just pushed through the restaurant and went out.

‘Darrell! David’s voice behind me. “Are you all right?

I spun around, and David took a step back at whatever he saw in my face.

Without a word, I slammed the door and started the engine, drowning out whatever else he might have said,

O Q

อ

1/3

MO

|||

O <

Fri, Aug

Chapter 107

Caelan’s POV

Would you like to move to another table, sir? Miss?” The server approached with an apologetic expression, gesturing toward the mess at the neighboring table.

Sable glanced at the disarray of napkins, silverware, and toppled water glasses before she shook her head. “Looks like someone went to great lengths just to eavesdrop on our conversation.”

I continued cutting my steak, matching her light tone. “Five thousand dollars for a neighboring table. That’s what I call business

savvy.

We shared a smile, but my mind was already shifting gears. The humor faded from my voice as I set down my knife. “In all seriousness, Sabi, we need to take measures to stop him from harassing you.”

She caught the change in my tone immediately. Her smile vanished. “What kind of measures?”

“Have Edward talk to him. Make him understand the consequences of continued pursuit.” I kept my gaze steady on her.

Sable’s forehead creased. “You mean have Edward threaten him?”

“I mean have him understand reality.” I picked up my glass, my eyes never leaving hers.

She shook her head firmly. “No, Caelan. I don’t want to solve problems that way.”

I stopped mid-cut, my knife suspended above the steak. “Then how do you propose to solve it? Let him keep showing up in your

life?”

“He’s just…” She waved a hand dismissively. “A bit persistent. We don’t need to resort to force.”

Something cold settled in my chest. “Persistent? Sable, he just spent five thousand dollars to sit next to us and eavesdrop. You call that persistent?”

“I just think-

“What?” I cut her off, my voice dropping lower. “That he deserves your protection?”

Color rose in her cheeks. “I’m not protecting him! I just don’t want things to escalate.”

I set my silverware down with deliberate care. “Escalate? He keeps showing up again and again. That’s not escalation?”

“He hasn’t actually hurt me…”

“Not yet. My voice had become dangerous, even to my own ears. “But you want to wait until he does before taking action?

The tension between us thickened. Sable pushed her chair back and stood. ‘I need to go to the restroom. Clear my head.”

I rose immediately, my eyes locked on her. Without a word, I followed.

She had barely pushed open the bathroom door when I slipped in behind her. With one quick movement, I locked the door and pushed her against it.

“Caelan? Her eyes widened. What are you-

“Now we can talk properly. Fire burned in my veins, a mixture of frustration and possessiveness consuming me.

田

3

> O III

2/3

11:39 Fri, 22 Aug 6.

Chapter 107

Her back pressed against the door, shock evident in her expression. What are you doing?”

I placed my hands on either side of her head, caging her in. I don’t like you considering other men’s feelings.

‘I wasn’t-

“You rejected my suggestion to protect him,” I said, cutting off her denial.

She placed her palms against my chest. “Caelan, calm down-

In one fluid motion, I lifted her onto the countertop. “I am calm. I’m just reminding you who you belong to.”

My hands roughly pushed up her velvet dress as I unbuckled my belt with the other hand.

“This is a public place…” Her voice trembled, but I detected the hint of excitement beneath her protest.

I silenced her with a kiss. “I don’t care.”

91%f

My lips traveled to her neck, sucking hard. I turned her around so her back faced me. In the mirror, she could clearly see every move I made as I unzipped my pants and freed my already hard cock.

I wrapped one arm around her waist and smiled meaningfully. “Since you won’t let me take necessary measures with Darrell, I’ll have to punish you instead.”

“You-